Activities of Pier Antonio PANZERI related to 2018/2149(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Welcomes that the area of public administration has registered some progress especially with the review of agencies and (semi)independent bodies; notes, however, that the continued politicisation of the public administration remains a concern, and adversely affects the efficiency and professional independence of the public administration;

2018/09/10
Committee: AFET

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Welcomes the fact that parliamentary and municipal elections, held in 2017, were generally competitive and well-administered in most places in Kosovo; notes, however, that there have been acts of intimidation particularly within many Kosovo Serb communities, targeting candidates not belonging to the Srpska Lista party; Urges the Kosovar authorities to comprehensively deal with previously identified electoral shortcomings by enacting timely legislative and administrative measures to address the outstanding recommendations of EU and European Parliament observation missions well in advance of the next round of elections;

2018/09/10
Committee: AFET

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Stresses that a representative judiciary and a uniform implementation of Kosovar law are prerequisites for addressing an inconsistent, slow and inefficient delivery of justice; welcomes the integration of Kosovo Serb judges, prosecutors and administrative staff into the Kosovo judiciary in line with the 2015 Justice Agreement between Serbia and Kosovo; regrets that the judiciary is still vulnerable to undue political influence and rule of law institutions need sustained efforts to build up their capacities;

2018/09/10
Committee: AFET

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. WNotes that corruption and organised crime remain an issue of concern that required concerted efforts to be tackle in a comprehensive and strategic manner; welcomes the initial progress made in strengthening the track record on the investigation and prosecution of high- level corruption and cases of organised crime; calls for sustained efforts under the obligations of the EU accession process;

2018/09/10
Committee: AFET

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. ~~Notes that visa liberalisation must be coupled with sustained~~Welcomes the Commission's announcement that Kosovo has made sufficient progress with regard to the accomplishments in fighting organised crime and corruption, a~~long with clear efforts to tackle irregular migration flows and to bring down the number of unfounded asylum claims~~nd that this means that all the conditions for EU visa liberalisation are now fulfilled; welcomes the adoption by the European Parliament of the Commission's proposal to lift visa requirements for Kosovo citizens; calls the Council to swiftly adopt its mandate to move forward towards the adoption of a visa-free regime;

2018/09/10
Committee: AFET

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)

16a. Regrets that the end of the mandate of the ICTY in December 2017 has left several challenges open in ensuring accountability for war crimes and crimes against humanity and genocide; welcomes the initiative to the creation of an official, intergovernmental, extrajudicial, regional commission for the establishment of the facts about war crimes and other gross human rights violations, including the investigations on missing persons, committed in the former SFRY from 1991 to 2001; urges all the countries from Western Balkans to actively engaged in this process;

2018/09/10
Committee: AFET

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17

17. Notes the important role played by the EU Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX) in strengthening independent justice, police and customs systems; acknowledges, moreover, the preventive and reconciliatory role of EULEX in prosecuting and adjudicating in cases of war crimes, corruption and organised crime, and its continuing efforts to identify missing persons; regrets however several weaknesses in the mission’s management; recommends an effective assessment to improve similar future missions;

2018/09/10
Committee: AFET

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20

20. Calls for the enforcement of the human rights framework to be prioritised, and backed by sufficient coordination and funding, especially in the field of gender equality, child and labour protection, social exclusion and discrimination against persons with disabilities and minorities, including LGBTI people; underlines the need to reinforce the Agency for Gender Equality and the National Coordinator for the Protection from Domestic Violence and to strengthen prevention;

2018/09/10
Committee: AFET

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)

20a. Regrets that minorities, such us Roma, Ashkali, and Egyptians continue to face problems acquiring personal documents, affecting their ability to access health care, social assistance, and education; highlights that the implementation of the strategy adopted in 2016 for the integration of Roma, Ashkali, and Egyptian communities was insufficient;

2018/09/10
Committee: AFET

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 b (new)

20b. Welcomes the adoption of the new Strategy and Action Plan for Inclusion of Roma and Ashkali communities in Kosovo society 2017-2021, but expresses its serious concerns about its limited application as regards the agreed budgetary allocations and the implementation and coordination mechanisms;

2018/09/10
Committee: AFET

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 d (new)

20d. Notes with concern that the results of the 2017 survey on marginalised Roma in Kosovo shows their limited access to opportunities in every aspect of human development, such as basic rights, education, health, housing, employment and their living standards;

2018/09/10
Committee: AFET

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 b (new)

20b. Welcomes the first Pride event held in October 2017 in Kosovo; regrets that there is a persistent discrimination that had registered an increase of hate speeches online against LGBTI people in connection with Gay Pride in Pristina;

2018/09/10
Committee: AFET

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 j (new)

20j. Calls on the authorities of Kosovo to address gender mainstreaming as a priority and take concrete steps to gender mainstream all policies, including the European Reform Agenda, and to ensure that governing bodies and authorities lead by example; expresses its concern about the under-representation of women in decision-making positions, in particular ministerial positions (12% in 2017);

2018/09/10
Committee: AFET

Soraya POST, Pier Antonio PANZERI, Kati PIRI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 c (new)

20c. Expresses its deep concern to the fact that domestic violence remained widespread in Kosovo and that the response from police and judges is still inadequate; underlines the need to reinforce the Agency for Gender Equality and the National Coordinator for the Protection from Domestic Violence and to strengthen prevention; urges Kosovo to sign, ratify and implement the Istanbul Convention;

2018/09/10
Committee: AFET

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 m (new)

20m. Calls on Kosovo to address the issue of justice for the estimated 20 000 women who were subjected to systematic sexual violence during the war; condemns that perpetrators have escaped prosecution whilst survivors have been marginalised, forgotten and denied access to justice; urges that those responsible for the crimes against them must be brought to justice and the authorities must provide adequate healthcare and psycho-social support to the victims to overcome the trauma and rebuild their lives; reminds of the link between sexual violence during war and conflict and, if not properly addressed, the higher degree of continuation of gender-based violence in post-conflict countries;

2018/09/10
Committee: AFET

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 d (new)

20d. Calls on the Kosovo Assembly to take into consideration the position paper jointly signed by the EU, UNICEF, KOFM and Save the Children when drafting the Child Protection Law;

2018/09/10
Committee: AFET

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 n (new)

20n. Calls for an increased attention when drafting and implementing legislation in areas affecting civil society space, to ensure that the legislation does not place disproportionate burdens on civil society organisations, does not have a discriminatory impact or diminish civil society space; underlines the need for public funding available for CSOs working on human rights, democracy, and the rule of law, including watchdog and advocacy organizations, including for small grassroots organisations, CSOs should be free to receive funding from other donors, such as private donors, international organisations, bodies or agencies;

2018/09/10
Committee: AFET

Pier Antonio PANZERI, Tanja FAJON, Soraya POST

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21

21. Recalls that even if the principle of freedom of expression is enshrined in the constitution and Kosovo benefits from a pluralistic and lively media environment, however, threats and attacks against journalists have continued; Urges of the need to ensure the editorial freedom, financial sustainability and independence of the Kosovar public broadcaster, and to guarantee transparency of private media ownership; calls for improvements to multilingual broadcasting and to the quality of information offered to all Kosovar communities;

2018/09/10
Committee: AFET

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)

21a. Regrets that five Member States have not yet recognised Kosovo; stresses that recognition would be beneficial to the normalisation of relations between Kosovo and Serbia and increase the EU’s credibility in its own external policy;

2018/09/10
Committee: AFET